Thread twisting apparatus



June 27, 1939. F. HoNlG THREAD TWISTING APARATUS Original Filed Dec.

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i nventor FRANK HDN/L 'Patented June 27, ,1939

Originalv application December 28, 1934, Serial N0. 759,463, .110W Patent N0. 2.146,578, dated February 7, 1939.-

Divided and this application Mayr21, 1938, Serial No. 209,349

11 Claims.

'Ihe present invention relates to the manufacture of thread by the twisting of individual laments, and particularly to an apparatus by which more than one twist can be imparted to 6 the filament for each revolution of the spindle from which the filaments are unwound.

The apparatus according to my invention is constructed with a view to the elimination from the spindle driving mechanism of expensive and l intricate gear drives and also, to the greatest extent possible, of bearings and other parts requiring oil, which might spatter upon and contaminate the filament being twisted into thread. It further contemplates the regulation while the l machines are in operation not only of the speed of the spindles but of their direction of rotation, so that any desired number, or all of the mperating spindles may be slowed down, reversed or stopped entirely, without injury to themselves or tothe filament.

Multiple twists may be imparted to filaments.

by two general methods: (l) by holding'the thread against rotation between its ends and rotating the ends tothe extent desired, (2) by g5 holding the ends against rotation and imparting to the threads at some intermediate point or points the twists desired.

According to. the present invention the two methods above referred to may be said to be l0 combined, the, supply spool according to the present invention being used in combination with a take-up'spool as described in my co-pending ap plication Serial No. 713,252, filed February 28,

1934, Patent No. 2,080,918, May 18, 1937, belowl identified. Inthis manner a total of three twists -may be imparted to the filament for each revoiution of the spindles. The mst two twists win lbe imparted, as will presently appear, while the filament is in transit from the supply spool to the 0 means for guiding the filament from the supply spool to the take-up spool. and the third and -final twist just before the finished thread is wound on the take-up spool, as in the aforementioned co-pending application.

1 prefer to drive the spindles by means of a gaseous fluid, preferably air whichis caused to circulate through suitable channels by a pump and actuate impelling fmeans mounted on the spindles which in turn actuate the latter. 'I'his 50 method of operation serves to do away with expensive belt or gear driving means and the constant necessity of repair and replacement attendant thereon, and permits the spindles to operate at much higher speeds than would be pracu Vticable if gear or belt drives were used.

vIn the accompanying drawing I have illustrated merely those parts of the apparatus con-- stituting the invention, the take-up spool being omitted as well as all parts of the machine frame except such as are absolutelynecessary to make 5 clear the connection of the subject matter of the present invention with the rest of the machine. lThe present application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 759,463, filed December 28, 1934, now PatentuNo. 2,146,578, lo granted February 7, 19.39. In the parent application I claim the package holding means. In the present application I claim. the spindle driving means.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section through the spindle according to my invention, taken on the line i-i of Fig. 4. i

Fig. 2 is a section .on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 'of Fig. 1; Vim

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 illustrates diagrammatically a machine according to my invention, showing a series of spindles'from which filament is to be unwound and twisted and showing the 'attachment of the 25 `driving mechanism. y

Referring to Fig. 1, the core supporting the filament to be twisted is mounted on the spindle A. While there is only one spindle illustrated in Fig. 1 it will be understood that more than one so may be employed if' it is'desired to twist a plurality offilaments together to form the finished thread, as shown for example at G, H, in Fig. 5.

'I'he spindle A of my invention is constructed preferably in two sections, a cylindrical section 2 and a section i, partly cylindrical and partly tapered.

The tapered portionl of the section ii of the spindle A is mounted in bearing 3, which in turn is fitted into a housing d, yprovided with a cover 40 plate 5 and suitably fastened to the frame B of the machine. To obviate frictional contact between the spindle l and bearing 3 I may provide the oil reservoir li located within the tube 1. Lubricant from this reservoir enters the bearing 46 surfacesV through the orifice 8. Thecylindrical portion of the section I is provided with a radial passage 9, which cooperates with a central longitudinal passage 9a therein. That part of the section L above the opening 9 is mounted in a 50 sleeve l0 flanged as at il and adapted to rotate with the spindle. The upper end of the section l is beveled to receive the end I3 oi bearing I2 in which is mounted the portion 2 of the spindle. The portion 2 is provided with a central longi- 55 tudinal passage 9b adapted to cooperate with the passage 9a in the section I of the spindle. The section` 2 is of smaller diameter than the section I of the spindle, the intermediate space I9 servingl as an' oil reservoir to which lubricant is introduced through the openings I5.

Any oil which might during the rapid rotation of the Ispindle tend to spatter uponv and injure the filament will be caught and retained within the iianged portion II of the sleeve I9.

Mounted on the spindle 2 outsidebearing I2 and attached to the upper end thereof by .washer l5 and split spring ring I'I is the package support I8 adapted-to receive a package of filament to be twisted into thread. Frictional contact between the support I8 and the bearing I2 is prevented by the oil reservoirs I9 to which oil may be admitted through openings 2D. The package support I8 is enlarged and anged at its lower end to form the oil retaining cup 2i.

The spindle I may be actuated in any suitable manner, as by gear or pulley mechanism or by an electric motor, but I prefer to use a uid operated mechanism such as shown at 22, which may be mounted directly on the spindle (see Fig. 4). To actuate the impeller I may introduce, by a suitable pump E (Fig. 5) air or similar fluid through the inlet 23, around the teeth of the impeller, and out through the exhaust 2d. The air may pass from the inlet to the impeller through either of the air passages 25, 28 or 21 depending upon whether it is desired to rotate the Aspindle clockwise or counter-clockwise, or, where` several spindles are used in series, to shut it voff from the rest of the unit. The passage of air to the impeller is regulated by the valve 28 provided with the air orifice 29 and operated by handle 30, the shaft of which projects through the housing .d at 3l, 32. If for example,'it is desired to rotate the spindle'in a clockwise direction the yalve 28 will occupy the position shown in Fig. 4 permitting the air to ow through the inlet 23, opening 29 of the valve, and passage 26 to turn the impeller. If it is desired to rotate the impeller in a counter-clockwise direction the handle 30 will be turned to the position shown by the dotted line 33, permitting the air to pass from the inlet 23 through the passage 29 of the valve and the passage 25 of the housing. If several spindles are being operated in series, and it is desired to eliminate one, the handle 38 may be turned to the position shown by the dotted line 32. With the valve 28 so positioned, the incoming air will not have access to the spindle 22 at all, but will pass through inlet 23 and passages 29 and 2l tothe next spindle housing in the series, and the rotation of the spindle thus shut off will be arrested as long as the valve 28 remains in that position.

If now it is desired to reverse the direction of rotation of a spindle while it is \in operation this may be done quickly and gradually without brealnng or injuring the filament. The passages 25 and 28 are so located that, while the valve 23 is being turned, for example, from the position it occupies in Fig. 4 wherein the air reaches the impeller via passage 26 to the reverse position (wherein it reaches the impeller via passage 25), it will be seen that some air will ow through each passage, thereby gradually retaiding the speed of the impeller during the change.

'I'he package D of lament to be twisted is mounted on the core 35, which I prefer "towpositively lock to support I8 by edge-like inserts 36 on the support. An insert of the type illustrated will permit an empty core to be removed and a the machine by new one inserted and at the same time prevent rotation of the core while the spindle isrotating and the iilament being unwound from it. i

If desired I may also provide for thecore a cap 37 of larger diameter than the core, to permit the filament to be freely unwound from the core.

' the core while the thread isbeing unwound.

The support i8 is held against rotation with the spindle by magnet Il having energizing coil 4I. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the magnet is U-shaped in cross section but forms a complete smooth circular enclosure about and spaced from the member 2| for the passage of the iiiament. It may be preferable to make the magnet 4U in two sections, which may be united in any suitable manner as by screws 92 (Fig. 3) The magnet assembly maiy be fastened to the frame B of ug 53 and screws 44.

It has beenv found -that if, as shown, the oil cup 2i is made larger than the magnet assembly 60, the effect of the magnet in preventing rotation of the' package support' IB is increased by concentration of the ux in the air gap 45.

The pointed end 46 of spindle A serves as a thrust bearing to support the weight of the spindle and its attendant parts.

The operation of the device is as follows: The

end DI of the filament to be twisted is guided by the operator from the package D, over the conical top 38 through the passages 9, 9a, 9b,

thence over the outside of the oil cup 2l toguide I, thence to the take-up spool. The pump E is then started, and the control valve 28 moved to a position determined by the direction in which it is desired to rotate the spindle. Thevmagnet 40, being energized, will hold the I'package support -I8 and core 35 but not the filament, against rotation With the spindle, with the result that the iilament will be twisted once before it emerges from the passage 9. 2Then, due to continual change of position of the opening 9 through which the filament is issuing, a second twist will be imparted to the thread before it reaches the guide I. Finally, as in my co-pending application Serial No. 713,252, filed February 28, 1934, a third twist will be imparted to the lament as it is being wound on the take-up spool as the iinished thread.

It will be understood that the pump E by which air or other fluid is admitted to the impeller may be driven in any well known manner as by an electric motor (not shown).

Fig. 5 illustrates diagrammatically an assembly consisting of several twisting units in series connected by the tube 91. The pump for-circulating the uid by which the spindles are driven is indicated at E, the spindle units by G, H, while F denotes a speed control unit of any conventional type. When air is used for driving, the opening llil of the pump communicates 1directly with the outside atmosphere at all times so that any loss or displacement of air in the circulatory system is at once compensated by the entry of air from the outside through this opening.

While I prefer to use air -or other gaseous fIuid for driving the spindles because it is cheap, clean and non-injurious to the materials being treated, I it will be understood that any iluid medium may be used without departing from my invention in certain of its aspects.

By the use of my invention, not only may the expense of operation be greatly reduced, but in addition the speed at which the apparatus may be operated and the consequent output of nished product can thereby be greatly increased. I have found for example that a single spindle according to my invention can be operated at speeds as high as 50,000 to '75,000 revolutions per minute.

The invention may be variously modiiled and embodied within the scope of the subjoine claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising in combination, an endless fluid conduit, a lament spindle, an impeller for said spindle disposed in said conduit, driving means for circulating gaseous fluid in said conduit, and means to regulate the speed of iiow of fluid in said conduit.

2. A device of the class described comprising in combination, an endless uid conduit,` a plurality of independent lament spindles, impellers for said spindles disposed in series in said conduit, each succeeding impeller receiving iluid passing a preceding impeller in substantially unchanged volume, and driving means for circulating gaseous uid in said conduit.

3. A device of the class described comprising in' supplying iluid to each impeller or for by-passing it around the impeller.

4. A device of the class described comprising in combination, an endless uid conduit, a plurality of independent filament spindles, impellers for said spindles disposed in series in said conduit, each succeeding impellerreceiving iluid passing a preceding impeller in substantially unchanged volume, driving means for circulating gaseous fluid in said conduit, and means between said lluid circulating means and said impellers for acting upon the :duid for 'regulating the speed of said impeller.

5. A device of the class described comprising in combination, an endless iluid conduit, a lament spindle, an impeller for said spindle disposed ln said conduit, driving means for circulating gaseous fluid in said conduit, and means for selectively supplying uid to said impeller to cause it zo rotate in one direction or in the reverse direc- 6. A device of the class described comprising in combination, an endless iuld c onduit, a lament spindle, an impeller for said spindle disposed in said conduit, driving means for circulating gaseous fluid in said conduit, and means for selectively supplying nuid to said impeller to cause it to rotate in one direction or in the reverse direction, said last-mentioned means being so constructed and arranged as to supply fluid simultaneously in both directions at times when changing from one direction of drive to the other.

7. A device of the class described comprising in combination, an endless iluid conduit, a plurality of independent lament spindles, impellers for said spindles disposed in series in said conduit, each succeeding impeller receiving uid passing a preceding impeller in substantially unchanged volume, driving means for circulating gaseous fluid in said conduit, and means for each 11n` peller for selectively supplying fluid thereto for causing it to rotate in one direction or the reverse direction. Y

8. A device of the class described comprising in combination, an endless iluid conduit, a lament spindle, an impeller for said spindle disposed in said conduit, driving means for circulating gaseous iluid in said conduit, and means for supplying to said driving means additional fluid from outside the conduit to replenish any which may be lost.

9. A device of the class described comprising in combination, an endless fluid conduit. a iilament spindle, an impeller for said spindle disposed in said conduit, driving means for circulating gaseous iluid in said conduit, and means for selectively supplying fluid to either` side of said impeller or for by-passing it around the impeller.

l0. A device of the class described comprising in combination, an endless fluid conduit, a plurality of independent illament spindles, impellers for said spindles disposed in series in said conduit, each succeeding spindle receiving fluid from a preceding impeller in substantially unchanged volume, driving means for circulating gaseous fluid in said conduit, and means for each impeller for'selectively supplying uid to either side of the impeller for driving it in one direction or the reverse direction or for by-passing the uid around the impeller.

l1. A device of the class described comprising in combination, an endless iluid conduit, a plu rality of independent lament spindles, impellers for said spindles disposed in series in said conduit, each succeeding impeller receiving uid from a preceding impeller in substantially unchanged volume, driving means for circulating gaseous iluid in said conduit, means for each impeller for selectively supplying uid to either side of the impeller or for by-passing it around the impeller, and means for controlling the tlow of iiuid from said fluid supplying means to said impellers.

FRANK HONIG. 

